Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking (and What’s Cooking Weekly), offers inspiration for introducing ethnic food to kids (beyond typical favorites like Chinese and Mexican), including a recipe for Slow Cooker Indian Braised Chicken and tips to get your kids involved in the kitchen.Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking (and What’s Cooking Weekly), offers inspiration for introducing ethnic food to kids (beyond typical favorites like Chinese and Mexican), including a recipe for Slow Cooker Indian Braised Chicken and tips to get your kids involved in the kitchen.
Today, Jules offers creative ideas for livening up leftovers:
“My husband and I recently realized we were in a food crisis. I love to cook and he loves to eat, but neither of us is too hot on leftovers; we were wasting too much. I just have this thing about them - I don’t enjoy them and am marginally freaked out by them. In reality, I know that anything I cook or eat fresh is good for another 3 days (beyond that, leftovers really do begin to collect bacteria). So I decided that what I needed to do was come up with creative ways to use leftovers for another entire meal. It turns out I do like leftovers…so long as they’re served in a totally different way than the night before.
Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking (and What’s Cooking Weekly), offers up a great way to warm up winter – both through the soup itself, and by getting your kids moving in the kitchen:
“This winter, try this delicious Pasta e Fagioli (Italian Pasta and Bean Soup) recipe. And don’t forget – kids make great helpers! See the Call The Kids section towards the bottom of the recipe to guide you on what your kids can do to help.
I typically am all about do-it-yourself crafts, but to artfully frame photos, I’ve experienced considerable frustration in the process of printing images, then finding frames that are the right style, have appropriately sized windows for your printed photos (sometimes resizing and reprinting photos is necessary), and aren’t dinged up from excessive handling at the store. Luckily, I now have a great solution. Read on for a review of the online framing service Imagekind, and also to learn how to win a $100 Imagekind gift card.
I remember being devastated in 1st grade when I learned that one of my best friends was allergic to chocolate and peanut butter. After missing out on all those classroom birthday cupcakes (always with an accepting smile), I can only hope that wherever he is, he knows about Divvies, purveyor of treats to be enjoyed by those with (or without!) life threatening allergies. Read on for Tracy’s review, and also to learn how to be one of 2 winners to receive a gift box assortment of Divvies gourmet popcorn, cookies, and candy!
Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking offers a guide for involving kids in the kitchen:
“Since I teach cooking classes for children, people ask me all the time about what their kids can really do in the kitchen. They find it hard to believe that their toddler can actually help, without causing complete chaos. The following guide highlights some of the age-appropriate cooking skills that children typically can handle. Of course, use your discretion depending on how much experience your child has had experimenting in the kitchen.
Dear Readers: This is a departure from the usual, but today I feel compelled to ask for your advice. Over the last few years - as I have learned how to be a parent, and also free myself of external expectations and make major professional leaps - I have come to believe firmly in the power of the universe; that life throws you the crazy pitches to force you to deal with stuff. So this week, as I was driven to the brink of a breakdown over an invasive squirrel, I have been trying to figure out what my lesson is. The chronology follows, and I welcome you to share your thoughts.
When we finally got around to transitioning Laurel out of her crib a few months ago, it was a joyful (for her) and emotional (for me) moment. Despite being decidedly short on leisure time, I decided to commemorate the occasion with a quilt, and found excellent inspiration in Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. The project took longer than the estimated 8-12 hours - largely because I adjusted the pattern, added an extra detail, and obsessed over getting the measurements right - but the results were marvelous. Click here for details and project photos. I wish the book offered a few more diagrams (although it probably doesn't hurt to exercise the spatial orientation neurons a bit...), but I otherwise highly recommend this book for beginning or experienced crafters.
If you’re looking for a fun project to do with older kids, consider finger knitting. My ultra crafty sister-in-law (as in, she spins and dyes her own yarn) showed me this technique recently; the process is perfect for mamas and kids because it’s needle-free and fast, particularly if you use a bulky yarn (this bolero yarn is similar in bulk to what I used). I made some fab coordinating mama & daughter scarves in under an hour, and I can’t wait until Laurel’s paws are big enough so she can try making one on her own. For excellent instructions and photos, see Knitty.com.
Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice encourages healthier eating for kids in 2008 (and beyond!). She shares 10 tips for change, and a couple of recipes for kid favorites that can be knocked together easily, and without all the salt and preservatives of typical processed goods:
The time couldn’t be more right for this winter soup recipe from Michelle of What’s Cooking:
"When the weather outside is frightful, nothing appeals more than a simple, delicious hearty bowl of soup. This recipe is ideal when you are winding down from a long week, and tastes wonderful when served with warm buttered whole-wheat pita bread. To give the barley a richer flavor, toast it in a dry pan over medium heat, shaking occasionally until golden brown. While this recipe calls for ground beef, you could substitute ground turkey or chicken. If you prefer your soup to be on the thick side, omit one cup of water, and you will have a more stew-like consistency. Don't forget to Call The Kids into the kitchen to help you prepare this family meal.
I’ve noted before my inability to cope with invasive critters, so imagine my panic when I came home today to find that a squirrel had worked its way into our home and ravaged our kitchen and laundry room (and, oddly enough, left a peanut in Jon's slipper). Sitting here with the panic zone closed off, and cringing in anticipation of the inevitable next round of activity, I’m not feeling particularly charitable towards squirrels, but we are gearing up for humane squirrel removal. Click here if you find yourself waging a similar urban wildlife battle (UWR also addresses raccoon, skunk, beaver, and fox removal).
I never would have thought a preschooler could be so adept at shoveling snow, but Laurel really rocked yesterday’s storm, thanks to a pint sized snow shovel borrowed from our neighbor’s granddaughter. The shovel is the perfect solution for busy, cabin fevered kids on light and fluffy snow days (we spent an hour shoveling and Laurel could have kept going). The shovel Laurel used isn’t labeled but the Suncast Kids Snow Shovel (shown) looks similar and is inexpensive (at Kmart and Amazon).
Let your holiday baking season begin with this masterpiece by Jules:
"I realize that the holidays are a tough time for those trying to watch calories, but I fully believe in indulging on special occasions, which include snowstorms and cozy Sunday afternoons. This bread pudding is a must-try; a comforting, heady dessert that will satisfy your wish for something rich, creamy, tart, crunchy, and seasonal. You can use egg substitute if you are watching your cholesterol, and I have swapped the classic whole milk and cream for mostly skim milk with some heavy cream to save a few calories. As with most of my desserts, I think this is served best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream, but fear not, this dessert is bold enough to stand on its own.
As someone now professionally obsessed with color and fabric, one of my aesthetic regrets from Laurel’s babyhood is that I didn’t properly outfit her crib. All the individual bedding component options (and their price tags) quickly overwhelmed me; so Laurel didn't have much else other than a lonely little crib sheet and blanket.
We've recently received some useful leads for toy and safety guides, good for the holidays and all year round. Locally organized Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment (TRUCE) has a printable toy guide featuring recommendations for toys that promote positive play (and those to avoid), as well as great ideas for themed creative play gifts made of household items. ToyTips.com features unbiased reviews generated by a team of psychologists, educators, child-care, and health professionals. And the Toy Industry Association has launched ToyInfo.org, a site dedicated to toy safety information.
Today, Little Lettice's Sara Cabot goes to bat for the humble potato, including recipes for the whole family:
"A mom of an 8-month-old baby came up to me the other day while I was doing a demo and said, “I’ve been doing the 4 day rule for each new food" [i.e., feeding your infant a single food for 4 days to check that there is no reaction], “but I’m a bit scared of potatoes.”